AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fiona, Team Truth’s official Headliner intel collector, must have missed it, being as she’d been wrongly incarcerated for a crime she had, in fact, committed and all.
“Since the death of Miss Irons, everyone in town is on the lookout for jimsonweed,” he continued. “The woman didn’t identify herself or her neighbor, but I was able to track down the homeowner—Robby Waynes.”
Of course! “Factor in his association with Ana, their battle over stolen money, and his awful personality, and we’ve got ourselves a murderer.” Jane scrambled in her seat. “I should—”
“Nope. Hightower’s got it covered. She’s finished her preliminary research, and she’s arranged an interview with him tomorrow.”
Finally! Actual evidence. Details clicking into place. “Robby probably robbed Blake and accused Ana of the crime. Ana went digging and discovered hard proof to send Robby to prison. Worked into a panic, Robby then poisoned Ana’s morning beverage and entrapped me to remove me from the cemetery and get his hands on my nonexistent gold.”
“Or maybe he, too, is being framed? Finding the jimsonweed was too easy.”
Ugh! Jane vacillated between the excitement of taking down someone so awful and uncertainty.
Was she really going to talk herself into not suspecting Robby? “Who else could it be?”
“I’ve got my eye on Blake Crawford. Miss Irons referenced a man named B-rye in her journal. Supposedly, he impersonated four other men in order to empty their bank accounts.”
Okay, this was beyond interesting. “When did you learn this?”
“Yesterday when I spoke with Hightower. She mentioned a man Ana speculated stole this B-rye’s identity in order to drain his accounts. The Robber.”
A revenge theft? “I knew Robby was the Robber!”
Except, total confusion quickly set in. “Let me get this straight. Ana believed Robby stole from Blake and that Blake stole from Robby, as well as four others.”
“Correct. There were twenty-three other names. Each guy was thought to have stolen from someone else on the list, but we’ve discovered no real connections between the individuals. Well, other than they were all males.”
Wow. So many other names to explore and cross reference. Her workload basically exploded.
Jane squared her shoulders. I’ve got this. I’m a caretaker of the dead, and I can handle whatever comes my way.
“You’ve asked your three questions, but I’m a giver, so I’ll give you a fourth,” Conrad said, threading his fingers through hers once again. He grazed his thumb over her now-racing pulse. “A bonus.”
Never one to refuse a gift, she peered into his eyes and asked what she suddenly wanted to know more than anything else in the world. “Am I invited to dinner? I hear the casserole is utterly divine.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“A dollop of sugar for two!”
Sweet Lips, Tennessee - Sweet Success Shindig
10 Matches Made!
The morning of the dinner and Robby’s interview with Agent Hightower dawned at last. Jane woke with a smile, her limbs tangled in soft sheets and Rolex curled into her side. The sun hadn’t yet dawned, but her eyes easily adjusted to the darkness in her bedroom and the mess she’d caused last night.
After dinner with Conrad, she’d come home to search for the perfect first date dress and hat to wear to Tiffany’s. Though she’d tried on everything she owned, nothing had struck her as good enough. Looked like she’d be forced to spend the day shopping rather than investigating.
Jane swiped up her phone and padded to the kitchen with her fur-child in tow. She prepared Rolex’s breakfast, as well as a pot of coffee, then poured herself a mug and settled in at the round kitchen table to read any messages. There were five.
A-hole Miller: Update me on our case.
Mrs. Hots: So excited to see you tonight! 7 pm sharp
Mrs. Hots: I forgot to ask if you have any dietary restrictions??? Let me know ASAP so I can inform the chef. Prepare to be dazzled!!!!!!
Mrs. Hots: Oh!!! We should probably coordinate our costumes, yes? I’d hate to wear the same thing.
Mrs. Hots: Lolololololol I forgot to tell you this is a themed dinner, didn’t I? Well, now you know. I selected Fated Mates. :) :) :) How cute is that?!
A theme? Fated mates? “This is going to be a challenge—for Conrad,” she told Rolex as he jumped onto the table and settled in the empty centerpiece bowl. Would her oh-so-serious boyfriend agree to dress up?
Rolex yawned at her.
“What am I supposed to even suggest to him?” Jane asked. “A doctor and patient? They’re kind of fated, right? Or is that too reminiscent of the last case?”
The world’s most perfect feline licked his hindquarters.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Jane said with a nod. “The last thing Tiffany wants is a reminder of her dead, cheating husband. Okay, what about a book nerd and a book boyfriend? Not that a woman who loves books is automatically a nerd. More like a goddess, amiright?” She herself had an especially delightful collection of romances and mysteries.
